Estrutura Básica - Class 6

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Aula 6: Nouns and Noun Phrases – Countable and Uncountable Nouns
In the end of lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Recognize noun phrases and its functions; 
2. identify the difference between simple and complex noun phrases.
1. Nouns – further observations
It is known that a set of words that display the same formal properties, especially their inflections – a process of word formation in which items is added to the base form of a word – and distribution belong to the same word class. This term is quite close to the more traditional term parts of the speech.
Words are classified according to the work they perform inside the structure of a sentence. Consequently, we can conclude that words that belong to the same word class play the same type of function. Each word play an specific role in the sentence and their jobs are quite different from each other.
The jobs done by verbs, for example are quite different from those done by prepositions. Take a look at a rather simple example as the one given below:
In more recent years, education and personal development became serious concern to politics.
In this sentence, you can see that each word performs a different role. Therefore, they can be individually classified as verbs, nouns, adverbs and so on.
1.1.1 Countable nouns
A noun can be countable or uncountable. Countable nouns can be counted; they have a singular and plural form.
Example:
A book, one book, three books.
One dollar, two dollars, a hundred dollars.
Notice that when we talk about more than one of the mentioned objects we add –s to make the plural. We add –es to determine words to make their plural forms. Nouns that end in ch, sh, s, ss, x, z, zz form the plural form by adding –es: 
One wrench  -  two wrenches
One fish - two fishes
1.1.2 - Uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns - mass nouns or non count nouns - cannot be counted. This means you cannot make them plural by adding -s, because they only have a singular form. It also means that they do not take a/an or a number in front of them.
For example: water, work, information, coffee and sand.
Making uncountable nouns countable:
You can make most uncountable nouns countable by putting a countable expression in front of the noun.
For example:
A piece of information.
2 glasses of water.
10 litres of coffee.
Three grains of sand.
A pane of glass.
The notion of countable and uncountable can be confusing. Some nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on their meaning.
Usually a noun is uncountable when used in a general, abstract meaning (when you don't think of it as a separate object) and countable when used in a particular meaning (when you can think of it as a separate object).
Glass - A glass of water. (Countable) | A window made of glass. (Uncountable)
Some supposedly uncountable nouns can behave like countable nouns if we think of them as being in containers, or one of several types. This is because containers and  types can be counted.
Believe it or not each of these sentences is correct!
Doctors recommend limiting consumption to two coffees a day.
(Here coffees refers to the number of cups of coffee)
You could write; "Doctors recommend limiting consumption to two cups of coffee a day." The coffees I prefer are Arabica and Brazilian.
(Here coffees refers to different types of coffee. The same as in The types of coffee I prefer are Arabica and Brazilian.)
Mission accomplished!
2 - Back to Noun Phrase
We know that nouns are the core of noun phrases. However, we find noun phrases which internal structure differ from those traditionally worked examples.
2.1 - The genitive case
Take a look at the examples below:
 "I will not hide the teacher's Prozac."
(Bart Simpson, The Simpsons)
 "The winner's edge is all in the attitude, not aptitude."
(Denis Waitley)
"An Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him."
(Alan Jay Lerner) 
As we could see we can find genitive case functioning the same way a noun does when in a noun phrase since they can develop the same functions a noun does when in connection to it such as subject or object.
2.2 - The Gerund
In order to start our discussion, let’s think about some initial and instigating questions: Do you know what gerund is? Do you know what infinitive is?
Take a look at the examples below:
 a. Gerald is sure about his love for Jenna. He wants to marry her.
b. Silence! Gerald is proposing to Jenna!!
In example a we notice that the verb is found in the infinitive form – it is preceded by TO, an infinitive marker – and it functions as the direct object to the verb WANT. The infinitive is the base form of a verb. It may be preceded by 'to' (the to-infinitive) or stand alone (the base or zero infinitive). The to-infinitive is used:
a. after certain verbs. e.g. want, wish, agree, fail, mean, decide, learn;
b. after the auxiliaries to be to, to have to, and ought to;
c. in the pattern 'it is + adjective + to-infinitive‘.
The most common uses of the infinitive are:
To indicate the purpose or intention of an action (where the 'to' has the same meaning as 'in order to' or 'so as to').
As the subject of the sentence.
With nouns or pronouns, to indicate what something can be used for, or what is to be done with it.
After adjectives in these patterns:
It is + adjective + to-infinitive = It is good to talk;
It is + adjective + infinitive + for someone + to-infinitive = It is hard for elephants to see mice;
It is + adjective + infinitive + of someone + to-infinitive = It is unkind of her to say that.
After an adjective + noun when a comment or judgment is being made.
With too and enough
Other forms of infinitive:
The perfect infinitive:
I would like to have visited the Eiffel Tower when I went to Paris.
Someone must have broken the window
The continuous infinitive:
You must be joking!
The perfect continuous infinitive:
She must have been crying.
The passive infinitive:
I am expecting to be given a pay-rise next month.
Thinking about what we have just seen we can conclude that infinitive is the form of the verb expresses the action of undetermined manner.
On the other hand, if we look at the example b we notice that the verb behaves in a different way than what we saw when studying the infinitive. Actually, if we pay attention to how the action is expressed in relation to the time when it is expressed, we see clearly the idea of movement. In fact, in the example b, we face an ongoing action. This idea of ongoing movement is transmitted especially by the –ing ending of the verb – the gerund. Gerund is the form in which we find the verbs that express progressive action.
The lines show you where nouns are required. You can put any noun on these lines (as long as it makes logical sense). What if you want to say an action is fun or difficult?  That is when you need a gerund. If you want to use an action word in a place that requires a noun, you can usually use a verb with an -ing ending:
 Travelling is fun.
Studying is difficult.
This is wrestling.
 In these sentences, traveling, studying, and wrestling look like verbs, but they are not verbs.  They are nouns.  When a noun looks like a verb with -ing, it is called a gerund. Gerunds act just like nouns and they behave like nouns in a clause.
 Smoking is a bad habit because it can ruin your teeth and your lungs.
A gerund phrase will begin with a gerund, an ing word, and will include other modifiers and/or objects. Gerund phrases always function as nouns, so they will be subject, subject complements or objects in the sentence. Read these examples: